Starting tomorrow, British Columbians will have to pay more for energy-saving appliances because of the B.C. Liberals’ HST agenda, says New Democrat environment critic Rob Fleming.

“Today is the last day to buy energy-saving appliances in British Columbia before they are slapped with a seven per cent tax increase. This is yet another impact of the B.C. Liberals' HST deception,” said Fleming.

The B.C. Liberals have started phasing out tax breaks on environmentally-friendly products even though their HST agenda has yet to become law, explained Fleming. Under the deal the B.C. Liberals cooked up after betraying their promise not to bring in the HST, the provincial government loses its ability to grant tax incentives for many consumer products and services.

In addition to the tax hikes taking place tomorrow, other environmentally-friendly products like bikes, energy-efficient windows, and hybrid cars will cost more if the HST is allowed to take effect on July 1.

"The B.C. Liberals' decision to add an extra seven per cent on to energy-saving appliances before the HST even comes into effect shows that their environmental election promises were nothing but empty rhetoric," said Fleming.

"Whether it's pushing to open up our sensitive coasts to oil drilling or slashing the budget for parks and conservation, the B.C. Liberals' actions prove that they just can't be trusted to stand up for the environment."

Carole James and the New Democrats are fighting the B.C. Liberal HST legislation, introduced Tuesday in the legislature. It would take seven B.C. Liberal MLAs to honour their campaign promise and vote against the legislation to stop the HST.